Sustainable institutions for African agricultural development

Primary attention is devoted to strengthening national agricultural research systems (NARS). First, the report examines the performance of African agricultural institutions during two 30-year periods: the colonial period (1930-59) and the post-independence period (1960-88). On the basis of this historical assessment, the following issues are raised for the upcoming 30 years: (1) restoring the primacy of commodity-based research; (2) establishing norms and priorities for research investment; (3) examining the relationships among NARS" size, quality, productivity, and sustainability; (4) limiting training targets to the level required to meet actual needs, while increasing capacities to retain trained researchers and faculty; and (5) planning research on a subregional rather than country level. The report then examines the World Bank"s agricultural research strategy for Africa and criticizes it for: assuming that all African countries are at similar stages of political and institutional maturity; adopting a resource-transfer model rather than a human capability and institution-building model; failing to draw on Africa"s research experience; failing to determine why Francophone countries are more dependent on expatriates than are Anglophone countries; and neglecting the critical issue of NARS" financial sustainability. Implications for African states, donors, and research institutions conclude the report.